BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD Star Quvenzhané Wallis in Consideration to Lead Will Gluck’s ANNIE Remake

Though it was only a few weeks ago that we learned that Willow Smithwas no longer going to be starring in the Will Smith and Jay-Z-produced musical remake of Annie, it appears that director Will Gluck (Friends with Benefits) already has his sights set on a pretty big get to lead the film. EW reports that Beasts of the Southern Wild star (and Best Actress nominee) Quvenzhané Wallis is apparently in consideration to star in the redo, though the magazine cautions that Gluck and the producers have yet to make any firm casting decisions. Hit the jump for more.

Though EW makes sure to note that nothing is firm, I actually think Wallis is an inspired choice to lead the musical. This would be a major leap for the 9-year-old actress who made her film debut with the stunning Beasts, and I’m inclined to believe that she just might be keen on taking the gig given her penchant for dancing at recent awards ceremonies. In addition to being flat-out adorable, Wallis showed considerable promise with her work in the Sundance indie and I’m interested to see how her career blossoms from here.

One hopes that her parents and handlers will ensure that the girl’s childhood isn’t sacrificed for an acting career. We should hear more with regards to the Annie adaptation soon, as the goal is to start production later this year for a fall 2014 release.